12 Best Restaurants in Rajasthan, India

The mood in the evenings at this twinkling, partly open-air haveli restaurant, located in the shadow of the lit Mehrangarh Fort, is memorably romantic. Using as many locally sourced ingredients and spices as possible, Darikhana serves both Indian and international food, including pastas, Mediterranean, and Thai dishes; popular Indian dishes are the traditional Rajasthani laal maas (spiced, well-marinated mutton), chicken curry, dahi kebab, and the paneer dishes.

For a break after a morning of sightseeing at Jaipur's fortresses, go to this pretty restaurant in the Trident hotel to sample a mix of Indian and European fare—pastas, kebabs, salads, sandwiches—washed down with cold Indian beer, or try the grilled red snapper or the Rajasthani thali (traditional laal maas or spiced mutton), two of the best dishes on the menu. It also offers a sizeable breakfast buffet.

This spacious lake-view restaurant with white brick walls has a mix of regular and low tables (with ground seating on mattresses), vintage curios scattered about, and a small religious shrine in one corner. It is a popular evening hangout for locals and tourists, who come for freshly made vegetarian fare, both Indian and international, although the latter (pizzas, sandwiches, and pancakes) is more in demand.

This bustling and often boisterous Jaipur institution might be the most popular restaurant among the middle class, and it is the place to grab dinner before a Bollywood movie at the Rajmandir Cinema around the corner. Dine on decent Indian and Chinese food (the range is extensive), as well as continental dishes; to drink, the options include beer and wine, and cold coffee topped with ice cream. During peak tourist season reservations are advisable.

A favorite with backpackers, this quirky vegetarian restaurant in an old whitewashed-blue building near the Brahma Temple has chilled trance music in the background, and reasonably quick and attentive service. The lengthy menu has everything from pizzas, thalis, extensive breakfasts (fit for a king) with Italian espresso, grilled sandwiches, soups, many flavors of lassi (chocolate, rose, mixed fruit), pasta (a favorite is ravioli in sage sauce), Mexican favorites, and Israeli and Middle Eastern food like falafel, to crepes (vegetable, sweet, or salty) and apple pie. You can eat downstairs in a/c comfort or head to the rooftop and have a meal with a view.

The pizzas here are as memorable as the locale—the restaurant is located within an out-of-service steam engine; hop aboard and settle into an interior booth (a must in hot months) or dine on the Victorian-era platform. It's located on the grounds of the Rambagh Palace hotel, part of the Taj Hotel empire, and buzzes at night with locals and in-the-know travelers.

If you like to people-watch, this small terrace restaurant with lovely lake views is the place to be—expect to see an eclectic mash-up of dreadlocked backpackers, ornately adorned desert dwellers singing and dancing, and plenty of local priests eager to perform pujas (Hindu ceremonies). The menu mixes Indian (stuffed parathas or a thali), Italian (pizza, lasagna, bruschettas) and Mexican (enchiladas), though the international dishes aren't quite what you are used to back home; the veg sizzlers, lasagna, and banana pancakes are particularly popular here.

Come in the early evening, when scores of tourists and locals gather in front of the restaurant on Pushkar Lake's eastern shore to watch the sun set.

Overlooking Lake Pichola, this restaurant benefits from a constant breeze, and sitting on the terrace feels as if you've joined the aristocracy and have unlimited leisure---plus live instrumental music adds to the romance in the evenings. Order from a fixed-price menu or à la carte options; favorites include the safed maas (mutton in cashew-nut gravy), butter chicken, papad mangodi ki sabzi (papad and lentil dumpling in tomato gravy), and kung pao chicken. Come at night to have a cocktail and watch the sunset.

Housed in a pink-walled bungalow off the busy M.I. Road, this restaurant-bar channels the spirit of British architect Samuel Swinton Jacob, who designed many of Jaipur's iconic buildings like Rambagh Palace and Albert Hall Museum. The food menu includes everything from Indian chaat to pan-Asian to Italian—there's something for everyone. The space is divided into two distinct units: The Yard, with a retractable glass roof and delicate pink furnishing, is awash with natural light while Albion has a speakeasy vibe with deep colors, vintage furniture, and chandeliers. The bar shakes up some interesting cocktails—the Sassy Jamun with gin, jamun (Malabar plum, type of stonefruit), and yuzu foam is a deliciously tart and spicy purple-colored concoction.

Located on the top floor of Parallel Hotel, this happening lounge bar and restaurant offers sweeping views of the cityscape and the surrounding Aravallis. Try one of their signature cocktails along with a selection of Mediterranean-inspired bar bites, dim sums, and sushi; there's also an extensive pizza, pasta, and risotto menu. After a long day of sightseeing, this is the perfect place for a sunset drink and finger food or dinner, although the music does get progressively louder through the evening.

The name of the Lake Pichola Hotel's restaurant means "upstairs" in the local dialect, and that's exactly what it is—a rooftop spot beside the pool, with spectacular views of the City Palace complex and lake, especially charming and romantic when they are lighted up after dark (it can be hot at lunchtime). There's typical Rajasthani seating on high beds and against bolsters, too. Run by the same family that runs 1559 AD, this is a favorite among locals and tourists, who come for the good-quality (though not outstanding) food at reasonable prices. The menu features Italian, Mexican, and Chinese dishes alongside the Indian food. The restaurant also has a well-stocked bar.